Marshall sets tests of voting equipment

Three separate systems to get workout Tuesday

Three separate systems to get workout Tuesday

April 08, 2006|ANITA MUNSON Tribune Staff Writer

PLYMOUTH -- If you've ever wondered how election officials come up with the correct ballot tallies on election day, you'll have your opportunity to find out during a public test of all the equipment. The test will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the Marshall County Clerk's office in the Courthouse at 211 W. Madison St. The Marshall County Election Board will test "all forms of the voting equipment," Steve Harper, election board president, said Thursday. That means that three separate systems will be given a workout, including "the old system that everybody is familiar with," Harper said, as well as the voting machines, and the absentee voting ballot counting system. Harper explained that election board officials will be looking to make sure that each candidate on the ballot is "activated," meaning that voters can be assured any vote for a candidate will be recorded accurately. Officials also will check to make sure that in races where more than one candidate is chosen, that no one can vote for more candidates than allowed. "We know how many votes there are to be cast," Harper said, explaining the number is based on the number of positions to be filled. "The machines will be set at zero ... and we'll check to see that the number of votes cast match the number to be cast." The precincts chosen at random for the test this year are Bourbon 2, German 5, and Union 2, according to Jan Fisher, Marshall County clerk. The Election Board drew the precincts from a hat, Harper said. "It's also the first time by law that we are required to do a test on all the systems," Harper continued. Before, election boards across the state were required only to test the absentee ballot counting equipment. Marshall County, he said, ran the multiple tests last year to answer any questions from party officials and/or voters prior to the actual election. Tuesday's test should take about 20 to 30 minutes per system to complete, Harper said. If there are any glitches, another test must be run and the public must be given 48 hours' advance notice of it, Fisher added.